CEE Animation Forum Returns with 33 Projects and a Focus on Animated Series
Skwigly
The 14th CEE Animation Forum will take place in Pilsen, Czechia, from 10 to 12 November 2026, welcoming animation professionals from across Europe for three days of project pitching, industry presentations, market activities and networking. Alongside pitches in four main categories, this year’s edition places a particular emphasis on animated series, with a dedicated pitching session for the Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Award and a programme of presentations exploring the format.
The pitching competition features 33 projects across four categories: 10 short films, 6 student short films, 10 series and TV specials, and 7 feature films. Around 70% of the selected projects involve CEE production partners, reflecting CEE Animation Forum’s role in connecting the regional animation industry with the wider European market. The selection spans a wide range of audiences, from preschoolers and children to tweens, teens and adults, with more than half of the projects targeting young adult and adult viewers.
In addition to the pitching competition, eight animated series will compete for the Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Award, presented as part of a new partnership between CEE Animation Forum and the Council of Europe.
Around 200 industry professionals, including producers, directors, broadcasters, sales agents and representatives of national film funds, festivals and universities, are expected to attend. A special afternoon of presentations dedicated to animated series and young audiences will explore topics ranging from European support for series co-production and opportunities for animation producers to the development of content for children and young audiences.
Animated series are the backbone of our industry, and today they are under pressure from two sides. Across CEE, public broadcasters, for decades the natural home of children’s animation, face growing political and financial pressure that puts the next generation of series for young audiences at risk. At the same time, animation for adults is booming, yet these series still struggle to find their place in traditional TV schedules. That is why series are at the heart of this year’s CEE Animation Forum. We want to open these questions and help creators, broadcasters and platforms find new ways to bring this work to audiences,
Marta Jallageas, Managing Director of CEE Animation Forum
Speakers will include professionals from across Europe: Clementine Trolong-Bailly (Council of Europe), producer Søren Fleng (FLENG Entertainment, DK), Jonas Kryger Hansen (Head of Strategy, Children & Youth at DR), media psychologist Martina Peštaj (RTV Slovenia), producer Emmanuèle Pétry-Sirvin (Dandelooo, FR), and Jarmo Lampela (Head of Drama at Yle, FI).
This year’s juries bring together seasoned professionals from across the animation industry, including representatives of sales and distribution companies Magic Fair (USA/FR), Dandelooo (FR) and MIAM! Animation (FR), as well as producers from studios and production houses such as Atom Art (LV), Autour de minuit (FR), Bionaut (CZ), Finta Film (SI), Animadocs (BG) and Amopix (FR). The juries also include Ola Staszel, Festival Director of DOK Leipzig; Stavros Markoulakis, writer-director and Artistic Director of Leiden Shorts; and Mykyta Lyskov, a Ukrainian animation director behind the award-winning film Deep Love (2019).
Projects will compete for awards with a combined value of more than €100,000, including cash prizes, scholarships, opportunities to participate in leading European training programmes and markets, and professional services. Alongside official awards across the four pitching categories and the Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Award, prizes will include an Audience Award, a CEE Animation Workshop Scholarship and four partner awards: Ciclic Residency, worth €35,000; direct access to CARTOON Forum; a TVPaint Animation licence; and the Travelling Distribution Award.
Alongside the pitching competition, CEE Animation Forum’s Market will offer a showcase of more than 50 projects in development, production and nearing completion still searching for a right partner, as well as a new matchmaking app for one-to-one meetings and networking events.
For more information, please visit the official website.